Portsmouth Residents Explore the Nina and Pinta [VIDEO]

Portsmouth area residents who toured the replica Nina and Pinta ships docked at Badgers Island Marina Tuesday were amazed at the detailed craftsmanship.

It didn't take much for them to be transported back in time to the 15th century when Christopher Columbus commanded these two vessels along with the Santa Maria and discovered America in 1492.

On board each ship, every detail from the sails and rigging to the deck floor and large wooden keels used to steer the vessels 100 years before ship's were equipped with steering wheels were authentic.

The 85-foot Pinta and the 65-foot Nina are owned by the Columbus Foundation based in the British Virgin Islands and the volunteer crews sail these vessels up and down the Eastern Seaboard 10 months a year to educate the public about the Age of Discovery.

Captain Joe Hopkins of the Pinta said sailing this replica vessel with his crew of six to eight volunteers is always a great experience and gives the crew a great feel for what it must have been like for the Spaniards when they sailed more than 500 years ago.

Captain Kyle Friauf of the Nina said he and members of his crew enjoy exploring some of the new places they visit like Kittery, Maine, as much as visitors enjoy exploring the vessels. Usually, the two ships sail to New York City, make their way up to Hudson River and visit ports in the Great Lakes.

This year, the foundation decided to have them visit Kittery and Portland, Maine to go further north.

Hopkins said they often see a lot of school children come for field trips to learn first hand about the history of Columbus' discovery of America. Crew members such as Mike Platt of Indiana say they enjoy giving the public tours to share details about the ships.

Platt said he and his two sons, Issac and Jason, ages 18 and 21, volunteer to serve on the Nina to spend some quality time together minus any cells phones, laptops and televisions. He said it is easy to lose all track of time when they are sailing on the open ocean to the point where they don't even know what day it is or what is happening in the news.

Volunteer crew members work hard to maintain the vessel at sea, but Platt said he and his sons have found it to be a very rewarding experience.

The Nina and Pinta will offer daily tours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until June 20. The tours will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.